Casket-pedestal.



No. 628,633. Patented July II, I899. J. ORT.

CASKET PEDESTAL.

(Apphcat on :11 d my 27 1898 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 628,633. Patented July :1, I899.

J. @JRT. CASKET PEDESTAL.

(Application filed May 27, 1898.)

(No Mo -J 2 Shasta-Sheet 2.

k 'kjizco Z n: nonms PETFRS 00.. PNOYO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. n. c. l

' UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JACOB ORT, or w lt-1 o; NEBRASKA.

CASKET-PEDESTAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,633 dated July 11, 1899.

Application filed May 277, l898. Serial No. 681,894. (No model.) A

To all whom it nay concern.-

the United States, residing at W'ahoojin the county of Saunders and State of Nebraska have invented'a new and useful Improvement in Casket-Pedestals, of which the'following is a specification.

My invention relates toan improved collapsible readilytra nsportable pedestal for caskets, my object beingto provide as a new article of manufacture a casket-support of this character adapted for use at burial ceremonies and supplied with drapery in keeping with the surroundings, yet so arranged as not to interfere with the collapsible feature of the pedestal.

Generally stated, the invention consists in a pedestal provided with end standards and collapsible connecting means, a drapery or shroud for the pedestal in combination with means for causing the drapery to fold in a regular manner as the pedestal is collapsed,

and in certain other novel features and combinations of parts hereinafter described.

The preferred construction of my improved pedestal and a certain modification of structure are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved pedestal in its preferred form, a portion of the drapery at the front side being removed; Fig 2, a longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 3, a top plan view; Fig. 4:, 'a broken vertical section through one of the end supports and showing extension means for increasing the length of the pedestalafter the full extension-between end'supports; Fig. 5, a broken plan view of a portion of the collapsible connecting means at one side and showing the manner in which the drapery isautomatically folded, and Figlffd abroken vertical longitudinal section showing a modification of the end supports.

In the preferred construction AA represent the end supports, and BB the collapsible and extensible connecting means. Each end support comprises, by preference, a top cross-bar O, resting at its ends in cast-metal sockets if, provided 'with perforated slotted lugs t, and pivotally joined to said lugs by means of pinst are-legs -s, joined together crosswise in pairs by cross-braces 8'. Each V 5- pair of connected legs is joined by means of Be it known that I, JACOB ORT,a citizen'of one or more links s to a joint or joints of the extensible connecting means joining the end supports in sucha in'anner'a's to'be automatically opened and closed in the extending or folding of the pedestal.

j The prefernd construction oftheextensible connecting me ns between'end supports is that shown, comprising at each side'a series .of pairs of 'links, the membersr 'r of each pair crossing like theletter X and being pivotally joined at their intersections. One end of each member is pivotally joined tothe adjacent end of the opposite member of the next pair-that is to say, the upper end of the member 0 of one pair is joined to the adjacent upper end of the member 0" of the next pair, and so on. In this manner each link (except at the ends) is pivotally connected with three other links, and thereby the links are given a lever action through and upon each other,

causing the pairs to be opened or closedsimultaneouslywhen force is exerted to separate the end supports or to bring them close together.

Preferably at the last upper joint at each end of a series of links (that is,joints between the links r and r) the connecting means is pivotally joined to an end of a crossbar 0 of an end support, so that each connecting means or series of links is pivotally joined at one point to each end support. At the corresponding lower points of the connecting means the links 3 which operate the legs, are joined. r

At the left end of. Figs. 2 and 3 the upper end of the last link 7' of the series'of links B is shown connected by means of, a rod' 19 to the upperend of the corresponding link of the series B.'.' At the right end of these fig ures is shown an additional extension means or extension end, which serves to increase the apparent length of the pedestal when desired. This comprises at each side of the pedestal a link n, having at its center link connection upper ends of the links n are connected by a rod 41 Attached to the extensible connecting means at regular intervals, as to the links 1* near their upper ends, are straps D, preferably secured by tacking or riveting them to the links. At the end of the pedestal provided with extension means straps D are pivotally joined to the links 7* at m in a manner to permit them to drop down when the extension end is closed. At their outer ends the straps D are slotted to fit over buttons Z on the links n.

At the upper joints of each series of links are eyelets 76, which serve for removably attaching a drapery or shroud E, supplied for the purpose with hooks 70. The shroud preferably extends around the non-extensible end of the pedestal and is attached at h h to the cross-rodp. At the opposite end of the pedestal is provided an end shroud E, attached at g g to the cross-rod 11. The shroud E is of suificient length to extend about the corners of the pedestal at the extension end when the latter is extended, and in this position the hooks 70 provided at the upper end-cor- 11ers, engage eyeletsk near the ends of the rod 0?). When theextension end is collapsed, as in Fig. 4, the ends of the shroud E overlap the shroud E farther, and the hooks are caused to engage an eyelet 7& near the center of the rod 91 WVhen the pedestal is fully extended between end supports, the straps D are drawn taut, and the limit of extension is regulated by the length of the straps and the distance between points of attachment. In Fig. 5 is illustrated an additional function of these straps-namely, that of folding the'drapery in a regular manner as the pedestal is't'olded,

This is accomplished by the straps bending out in a regular manner between the points of attachment while the pedestal is being closed, and to insure an outward bending of the straps they are given shar'p'outward kinks at points midway between the points of attachment before they are secured to the links. This renders certain an outward rather than an inward folding of the straps-when the pedestal is being closed.

The pedestal as thus described is quite strong, and it is to be observed that once it is extended and the legs of each end support automatically separated the tendency under a weight upon the pedestal is to spread farther. This tendency is, as above stated overcome by the straps D. If desired, an additional strengthening means (for preventing wracking) may be provided in the shape of brackets F,extending inwardly from the cross: bars 0. It will be observed that in case there is a tendency to Wrack the end of one or the other of these brackets will bear up under the casket and will operate as a lever to prevent further Wracking. I do not, however, limit myself to this feature, as in some instances it may be dispensed with entirely.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified construction of the end supports, showing how the pivoted in its extended position.

straps'are drawn taut.

ends of the corresponding outer links 7' of each series.

The" rod f is supplied with a staple or In this construceyelet e, which engages a hook e on the crossbar 0, by means of which the pedestal is locked In this case either the strap. D or the upper end of the slot might mark the limit of extension.

The operation of the preferred form is as follows: When it is desired to extend or open the pedestal, it is necessary only to exert a separating force on the cross-bars C. This action serves to open the link pairs till the In this operation the connected pairs of legs 8 of each end support are automatically separated through the medium of the links 5 After a weight is placed upon the pedestal it will have no tendency to close, but rather to open farther, which is checked by the straps D. In closing the pedestal the straps bend out between their points of attachment, causing the drapery to fold in a neat and tasteful manner. When it is desired to add to the apparent length of the pedestal, the extension end may be employed by causing the slots n to engage the pins 01 and buttoning the straps D to the buttons Z. In this case the hooks k engage the eyelets k in the manner already described.

Modifications in detailof construction within the spirit ofmy invention may be made, and I wish to be understood as intending'no limitation by the aboveparticular description except as shall appear from the appended claims.

It may here be stated that where the shroud is dispensed with and the pedestal is given a pure-white finish, as where the pedestal is to be used at the funeral of a child, it is unnecessary to use the straps D, and in such case the end supports may beplaced at any desired distance apart. In other words,the chief f unction of the straps is to effect a folding of the drapery, and it is in exceptional cases that the confining action of the straps is required, being more in the nature of a safeguard to prevent a possible spreading of the pedestal, for it is to be noted that the legs of the end supports cannot spread unless the supports are moved bodily on the floor. Any suitable folding device for insuring a regular folding of the drapery would be regarded as within the spirit of this portion of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a casket-pedestal the combination of two end supports, collapsible connecting means joining said supports,drapery attached at intervals to said connecting means, and a folding device for insuring the regular foldin g of the drapery as the pedestal is collapsed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a casket-pedestal, the combination of two end supports, collapsible connecting means joining said supports, and inwardlyprojecting brackets carried by said supports serving to aid in the prevention of wracking of the pedestal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. j

3. In a casket-pedestal, the combination of end supports, collapsible connecting means joining the supports, a drapery or shroud removably attached at intervals to said connecting means, and a folding device for insuring the regular folding of the drapery as the pedestal is closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a casket-pedestal, the combination of two end supports provided with pivotally-secured legs, collapsible connecting means join ing the supports at both sides of the pedestal, and means for joining said collapsible connecting means to said legs whereby a spreading or closing of the legs is automatically effected by the extension or closing of said collapsible connecting means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a casket-pedestal, the combination of two end supports provided with pivotally-secured legs, a series of links at each side of the. pedestal pivotally connected to have a lever-like action upon each other, each series being pivotally joined to an end of each end support, and links connecting said series of links to said legs, whereby an automatic opening and folding of the legs is effected in the opening and closing of said series of links, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a casket-pedestal, the combination of end, supports, collapsible connecting means joining said supports, drapery attached at intervals to said connecting means,and straps attached to said connecting means between the drapery and connecting means and serving to effect a folding of the drapery as the pedestal is closed, substantially as and for ends of the members of the adjacentpairs,

and an extension end comprising links n, link connection a joining the links at at points between their ends to the upper ends of the adjacent pair of links 1', and 'pin-and-slot connection between the lower ends of the links at and the lower ends of the adjacent end pair of links 0, whereby the end extension may be used or not as desired, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a casket-pedestal, the combination of two end supports, collapsible connecting means joining said supports, an extension end at one end of the pedestal, an end shroud attached to said extension end, a shroud attached at intervals to said collapsible connecting means and overlapping at its ends said end shroud, hooks at saidoverlapping portions, eyelets on the extension end for engaging said hooks when the extension end is used, and another eyelet on the extension.

end for engaging the hooks when the shroud is given a further overlapping by reason of the extension being closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JACOB oRT.

In presence of.-

R. T. SPENCER, M. J. FROST. 

